UNIVERSAL TESTING MACHINE (UTM)

UTM is used to assess the strength of materials. It offers enhanced control and stability
during a material testing process and helps ensure accuracy and repeatability. The strength or
mechanics of materials is an area of materials science focused on calculating material stresses
and strains. Several tensile strength and compressive strength materials tests exist, including but
not limited to tear, elongation, elasticity, plasticity, 3-point bend, deflection, deformation,
fatigue, fracture and failure tests. The range of tests is so wide that it allows for testing a wide
range of materials under very different conditions (e.g., different speeds, loading rates, forces,
etc.). (Instruments, 2020)

UTM STANDARD OPERATION PROCEDURE FOR DIFFERENT TESTS:

A. TENSION TESTS
A test sample is loaded in tension when it experiences opposing forces acting
upon opposite faces both located on the same axis that attempt to pull the specimen apart.
The tension test is designed to run until the sample under the load fails or breaks. The
values that can be measured from this type of test can differ from, but are not limited to,
tensile strength, ultimate strength, elongation, elasticity modulus, yield strength, Poisson
ratio and strain hardening. The measurements taken during the test show a material 's
characteristics when it's under a tensile load.

1. Set the power switch ON.

2. Press the pump ON switch after checking that the load control knob is at RETURN.
3. Set the control knob alternately to RETURN and OPEN a few times to move the ram
vertically by 100 mm to ensure smooth lubrication between the ram and cylinder.
4. Either set the load control knob to RETURN and then to HOLD when the ready lamp
lights or press the RETURN with load control knob at HOLD, in order to return the
lamp to its initial position. (The READY lamp lights when the ramp has returned to
its initial position.)
5. In the minimum - load range, zero-adjust the load display and load pointer before
making the load-span adjustment.
6. Mount grips that are suitable to the specimen’s shape or size.
7. Insert the specimen between the upper insert grips, and firmly by turning the grip
open-close handle in the direction indicated by an arrow (clockwise).
8. Select a load range after cancelling the specimen weight (zero-adjustment of load
display).
9. Set an initial stroke speed according to the characteristics of the specimen.
10. Press FUNC, 2, and ENTER to enter the TENSION mode. (The display shows
MODE TENSION.)
11. Enter test conditions using numeric keys.
a. Stress speed, whichever is specified.
b. Ram stroke speed.
c. Specimen sectional area, up to 20 specimens.
d. Stress speed control range, whichever is specified.
 12. Reset the load peak hold display.
13. Press the stroke ZERO key to make a stroke zero on the display.
14. Press the lower crosshead elevation switch (UP) to raise the lower crosshead to
suitable height for the grips to grip the specimen after checking that the lower grips
are open.
15. Grip the specimen firmly by turning the lower grip open-close handle clockwise.
16. Press START.
a. The unit starts loading at a present stroke speed.
b. The unit switches to a set stress speed control at 3% of the full-scale load.
c. When the stress on the specimen reaches the set stress speed control range; the
unit continues the control while maintaining the resulting valve flow rate.
d. The load pointer turns counterclockwise at a yield point. The load peak hold
display shows a yield point load at this moment.
17. Press ENTER after checking that a yield point has been measured.
a. The unit starts a constant -speed ram stroke control.
b. The unit automatically stops the loading if a specimen is fractured after
undergoing a maximum load.
18. Fit the grip open-close handles to the pinion shafts and turn the handles
counterclockwise to open the grips, then remove the fractured specimen.
19. Press RETURN.
a. The ram descends until the READY lamp lights and stops at its initial
position.
20. Read a maximum load on the load peak hold display.
21. To perform another test, start with step 6. If specimen sectional areas are already
registered, jump to 12 after proceeding to with steps 6 to 9.

CAUTION: Make sure to remove the upper and lower grip open-close handles when a
load is applied to specimen.

B. COMPRESSION TESTS
A compression test is any test in which a material experiences opposing forces
pushing the specimen from opposite sides inwards or otherwise being compressed,
"squashed," crushed or flattened. The test sample is normally mounted between two
plates that distribute the applied load across two opposite faces' entire surface area of the
test sample, and then the plates are pushed together by a universal test machine to flatten
the sample. A compressed sample is normally shortened in the direction of the forces
applied and expands perpendicular to the force. A compression test is the opposite of a
more common tension test.

1. Set the power switch ON.

2. Press the pump ON switch after checking that the load control knob is at RETURN.
 3. Set the control knob alternately to RETURN and OPEN a few times to move the ram
vertically by 100 mm to ensure smooth lubrication between the ram and cylinder.
4. Either set the load control knob to RETURN and then to HOLD when the ready lamp
lights or press the RETURN with load control knob at HOLD, in order to return the
lamp to its initial position. (The READY lamp lights when the ramp has returned to
its initial position.)
5. In the minimum - load range, zero-adjust the load display and load pointer before
making the load-span adjustment.
6. Mount the compression plates for compression tests.
7. Center a specimen on the lower compression plate using a mark line as the reference
point.
8. Select a load range after cancelling the lower compression plate and specimen
weights (zero-adjustment of the load display).
9. Reset the load peak hold display.
10. Press the stroke ZERO key to make a stroke zero on the display.
11. Press the lower crosshead elevation switch (DOWN) to lower the lower crosshead
until there is a clearance of 2 to 3 mm between the upper compression plate and the
top of the specimen. The upper compression plate must not contact the top of the
specimen.
12. Slowly turn the load control knob toward OPEN to load while checking the load
pointer.

CAUTION: The unit loads faster for a compression test than for a tension test, and may,
at
times, load too quickly. Therefore, be careful when operating the load control knob.

13. Set the load control knob to HOLD and press RETURN if the specimen is fractured.
a. The ram descends until the READY lamp lights and stops at its initial
position.
14. Remove the fractured specimen pieces.
15. Read a maximum load on the load peak hold display.
16. Start with step 7 to perform another test.

C. BENDING TESTS
Bend testing a material allows the determination of ductility, bend strength, and
fracture resistance of that materials. These characteristics can be used to assess if a
material would collapse under pressure and in any construction, process involving ductile
materials loaded with bending forces are especially important. r If a material starts
fracturing or fracturing entirely during a three- or four-point bend test, it is valid to
assume that in any similar application the material will fail, which may lead to
catastrophic failure.
 1. Set the power switch ON.
2. Press the pump ON switch after checking that the load control knob is at RETURN.
3. Set the control knob alternately to RETURN and OPEN a few times to move the ram
vertically by 100 mm to ensure smooth lubrication between the ram and cylinder.
4. Either set the load control knob to RETURN and then to HOLD when the ready lamp
lights or press the RETURN with load control knob at HOLD, in order to return the
lamp to its initial position. (The READY lamp lights when the ramp has returned to
its initial position.)
5. In the minimum - load range, zero-adjust the load display and load pointer before
making the load-span adjustment.
6. Mount the flexure-bending test device.
7. Center a specimen on the fulcrum roller of the flexure-bending test device using a
mark line as a reference point.
8. Select a load range after cancelling the device and specimen weights (zero-adjustment
of the load display).
9. Reset the load peak hold display.
10. Press the stroke zero key to make a stroke zero.
11. Press the lower crosshead elevation switch (DOWN) to lower the lower crosshead
until there is a clearance of 2 to 3 mm between the punch and the specimen top. The
punch must not contact the top of the specimen.
12. Slowly turn the load control knob toward OPEN to load while checking the load
pointer.
13. Set the load control knob to HOLD and press RETURN when the specimen bending
angle is approximately 170°.
a. The ram descends until the READY lamp lights and stops at its initial
position.
14. Remove the flexure-bending test device and mount the compression plates for
compression tests.
15. Set a metal strip equivalent in length to twice the radius of the punch inside the
specimen and bend it 180° using the compression plates.
16. Inspect the surface of the bent part for tears and other damage. If there is none, the
material is acceptable.
17. Start with step 6 to perform another test.

D. FLEXURE TESTS
Measurement of flexural strength and flexural modulus is the most common
purpose of a flexure test. On either the compression or tension side of the material,
flexural strength is defined as the maximum stress on the outermost fiber. The flexural
modulus is determined based on the slope of the stress vs. strain deflection curve. These
two values can be used to determine the capacity of the sample materials to withstand
bending or flexure forces.
1. Set the power switch ON.
2. Press the pump ON switch after checking that the load control knob is at RETURN.
3. Set the control knob alternately to RETURN and OPEN a few times to move the ram
vertically by 100 mm to ensure smooth lubrication between the ram and cylinder.
4. Either set the load control knob to RETURN and then to HOLD when the ready lamp
lights or press the RETURN with load control knob at HOLD, in order to return the
lamp to its initial position. (The READY lamp lights when the ramp has returned to
its initial position.)
5. In the minimum - load range, zero-adjust the load display and load pointer before
making the load-span adjustment.
6. Mount the flexure-bending test device.
7. Center a specimen on the fulcrum roller of the flexure-bending test device using a
mark line as a reference point.
8. Select a load range after cancelling the device and specimen weights (zero-adjustment
of the load display).
9. Reset the load peak hold display.
10. Press the stroke zero key to make a stroke zero.
11. Press the lower crosshead elevation switch (DOWN) to lower the lower crosshead
until there is a clearance of 2 to 3 mm between the punch and the specimen top. The
punch must not contact the top of the specimen.
12. Slowly turn the load control knob toward OPEN to load while checking the load
pointer.
13. Set the load control knob to HOLD and press RETURN when the specimen bending
angle is approximately 170°.
a. The ram descends until the READY lamp lights and stops at its initial
position.
14. Remove the fracture specimen pieces.
15. Read a maximum load on the load peak hold display.
16. Start with step 7 to perform another test.
REFERENCES

Aviso, J., Galera, F., Espinoza, W., & Ratay, R. (n.d.). ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND
TESTINGS LABORATORY MANUAL.

Home. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2020, from

https://www.testresources.net/applications/test-types/

Instruments, P. (2020, September 20). Universal Testing Machine. Retrieved September 20,
2020, from https://www.pce-instruments.com/english/measuring-instruments/test-meters/
universal-testing-machine-kat_157623.htm